Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division One Public Hearing - June 4, 2024
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Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division One Public Hearing - June 4, 2024
The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division One convened on June 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM to hear requests for variances and use variances. The board, chaired by Peter Nelson, considered several special requests, expedited petitions, and a full hearing on a use variance for outdoor vehicle storage. Four board members were present, requiring three votes for action.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved a waiver of notice requirements for expedited case 2024 DV1019 (Edgewater Pool Deck) by a 4-0 vote, allowing a three-day waiver for mailers and four-day waiver for the sign.
- The board approved a six-day waiver of notice for the amended petition 2024 DV2011 (Evanston Avenue) and moved it to the expedited docket by a 4-0 vote.
- The board approved a four-day waiver of the second amended notice for petition 2024 DV1014 (English Avenue) and moved it to the expedited docket by a 4-0 vote.
- The board acknowledged an automatic continuance for petition 2024 DV1018 (College Avenue) to July 2, 2024, without additional notice.
- The board voted to continue and transfer petition 2024 UV1008 (Cnow Road) to the June 18, 2024, Division 3 hearing due to a staff error, by a 4-0 vote.
- The board approved three expedited petitions by a 4-0 vote each: 2024 DV1019 (Edgewater Pool Deck), 2024 DV1014 (English Avenue), and 2024 DV2011 (Evanston Avenue).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mary Clark, representing the International Marketplace Coalition, spoke as a remonstrator on petition 2024 UV1007 (West 38th Street). She expressed that the petitioner had been in the neighborhood for 20 years and requested that they consider adding landscaping to improve the lot and be good neighbors. She initially opposed a continuance but later clarified that she was concerned about vehicle storage in the front of the building, not the back lot where it historically occurred.
Discussion Items
- Petition 2024 UV1007 (5075 West 38th Street): David Bate, corporate counsel for Oakley Automotive Group, requested a variance of use to allow outdoor storage for vehicles awaiting repair (equivalent to 231.52% of gross floor area, exceeding the 25% limit). He argued that the back lot had been used for storage since 2004 and that the service department had been closed, so no vehicles awaiting repair would be stored. Staff recommended denial, citing the lack of landscaping, the scale of the proposed storage as a primary rather than accessory use, and the absence of a landscape plan. The board discussed the scope of the request, and the petitioner withdrew the portion related to vehicles awaiting repair. The board voted 2-2 (Catona and Nelson in favor, Rodriguez Hilt and Duncan opposed), resulting in an indecisive vote and automatic continuance to the July 2, 2024, hearing.
- Petition 2024 UV1006 (South Meridian Street): Kevin Buckheit, representing Summit Indianapolis LLC, requested a continuance to July 2, 2024, to continue discussions with remonstrators regarding a list of prohibited uses. The remonstrators, including the Meridian Raymond Neighborhood Association, did not oppose. The board granted the continuance by a 4-0 vote.
Key Outcomes
- All three expedited petitions (2024 DV1019, 2024 DV1014, 2024 DV2011) were granted by a 4-0 vote.
- Petition 2024 UV1007 resulted in a 2-2 vote, automatically continuing the case to the July 2, 2024, hearing.
- Petition 2024 UV1006 was continued to July 2, 2024, by a 4-0 vote.
- Several notice waivers and continuances were approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm gonna call this meeting to order. This is a public hearing of the Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals Division One. I am Peter Nelson, acting chairperson of Division One. Other board members present are David Duncan, Andrew Cotona, and Natalia Rodriguez Hilt. Legal Counsel for the board today is Chris Steinmetz. Staff members present today from the Division of Planning are Eddie O'Neill, Principal Planner 2. Robert Ulenhake, senior planner, Noah Stern, Senior Planner, Michael Weigel, senior planner, Melanie Evans, Acting Specialist and Secretary to the Board, and Marty Weiste, Senior Board Specialist and Secretary to the Board. Matt Pleasant is the current planning administrator. The board has copies of the zoning ordinances that will be incorporated by reference into the record of each case heard today. The proceedings of this hearing are governed by the board's rules of procedure. The expedited cases will be heard immediately after all requests for continuances or withdrawals. As each non-expedited case is called, petitioners and remonstrators interested in that particular case will please stand. Those who intend to testify will please remain standing and be sworn. Petitioners should be on your left and remonstrators on your right as you face the board. Those who testify will state their name and address for the record before beginning to testify. Petitioners and persons appearing in support of the case being heard shall have a maximum of 15 minutes for the presentation of evidence, statements, and arguments in support of the petition. Remonstrators and persons appearing in opposition to the petition shall have a maximum of 15 minutes for the presentation of evidence statements and arguments in opposition to the petition. Staff will then present the administrators' comments regarding the petition. The petitioner will then be allowed five minutes for rebuttal and a summation of the case. Rebuttal must be limited to the subject matter of the initial presentations. Remonstrators will then be allowed five minutes for rebuttal of the petitioner's rebuttal excuse me, rebuttal evidence, and a brief closing statement. No further evidence statements or arguments will be heard unless it is at the discretion of the board. Please limit your testimony and evidence to the matters covered in the statutory requirements, which must be met in order for the board to grant a variance. If the petitioners have failed to comply with all notice requirements as stipulated by the board's rules of procedure, including posting of the notice sign on the subject property at least 23 days prior to the hearing, the board may continue the petition. Anyone at this hearing who thinks complete improper notice has not been given and would like the petition continued due to lack of proper notice must bring this matter to the board's attention at the beginning of the hearing. The board may impose various conditions or commitments as amendments before reaching the a decision on a certain petition. The installation of landscaping and screening, the paving of parking area, and the dedication of rights away are examples. These conditions and commitments are an integral part of the board's decision and must be met for a granted variance to be valid. Compliance with the conditions imposed by the board must be approved by an affidavit of compliance submitted by the petitioner within 30 days of completion. Unless otherwise specified, an improvement location permit must be obtained prior to the establishment of the authorized improvements. Failure to comply with any conditions or commitments of a variance grant is a violation enforceable by the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. A person may file a written request to receive notice of the filing of a petition for judicial review of a decision of the board. The written request must be filed within five days of the board's decision and must include the person's full name and correct mailing address and a reference to the board's petition number. Forms are available and may be obtained from the board secretary. Please be advised that contacting members of the board regarding a matter pending before the board outside of this public hearing process is prohibited. Please be courteous and orderly at all times, and please be sure all cell phone ringers are turned off. There are four members present today. It requires three votes to take action on any request. So a 2-2 vote would mean an automatic continuance for the petition to be heard again. We will take this into consideration when hearing requests for continuances. If your petition receives an indecisive vote, your petition will be continued to the July 2nd hearing. All right. Is there anyone in the audience who has any questions about our procedures? Okay, seeing none, before we hear special requests, I will ask for a waiver of our rules of procedure to allow the board to vote on all expedited petitions and adopt their findings of fact without any additional testimony from the individual petitioners. Is there a motion? Duncan so moved. And a second. Catona seconded. All right, I will call for a vote.
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